Flashing for use in building structures



A118- 10, 1954 J.AD. TENNlsoN. 2,685,712

FLASHING FOR USE 1N BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed May 1, 1952 FIG. I 10/ J- D- TENNISON I3 l INVENToR.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 19544 TNT OFFICE FLASHING FOR USE IN BUHLDIN G STRUCTURES .lames D. Tennison, Memphis, Tenn. Application May l, 1952, Serial No. 285,432

(Cl. 2li-1l) 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to building structures and more particularly to flashing means for use in preventing leakage of moisture adjacent the yupper end of window or other openings in such structures.

As is well known in the building trade, the prevention of leakage adjacent the upper end ci window or door openings .has presented a very troublesome problem and various attempts to solve such problem have been made. rJ'hese prior methods have utilized caulking in conjunction with a wood drip cap which is installed above the Window opening and such caulking has been iniected in the crack between such cap and the lower edge of the siding of the building.

This has not represented a satisfactory solution for the reason that it is diiiicult and requires considerable skill to properly inject the caulking to insure a weathertight joint. Further the caulking compound has a tendency to harden and break off often times leaving openings through which rain and moisture may enter the building. Furthermore these prior structures have resulted in the seepage oi moisture due to capillary action along the surfaces of the wood with the reresult that after a period of time the wood adjacent the building openings becomes rotted and must be removed and replaced. Such removal and replacement of these wood structures is extremely diicult and costly and consequently any satisfactory solution of such problem represents a very real step forward in the art.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a hashing structure for use in conjunction with window or other openings tu a building to preclude leakage of moisture between the frame forming such openings and the siding of the building.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a ilashing for preventing leakage adjacent the upper end or Window or other openings in a building which may be utilized either with or without the conventional wood drip cap and which serves to preclude entry ci moisture adjacent the lower edge of the siding of the building and furtherm more provides means for directing moisture away from the wood surfaces thereby preventing entry of moisture due to capillary action.

A still further object oi the invention is the provision of a ashing for preventing leakage oi moisture adjacent the upper end oi window or other openings in a building which when utilised without the conventional Wood drip cap presents the same pleasing outward appearance while at the same time eliminatingthe cost of the mate-A 2 rial and installation involved When using the wood drip cap.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dashing for use in preventing leakage of moisture adjacent the upper end of window or other openings in a building which flashing may be preformed and provided in standard lengths, which may be easily out to the proper size on the requiring' no special tools other than conventional tinners ships and which may be conveniently installed by relatively unsln'lled labor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a dashing for preventing leakage of moisture adjacent the upper end of window or other openings in a building which may be easily and conveniently installed by relatively unskilled labor and which removes the necessity for accurate tting of the abutting surfaces of the building siding and the adjacent framework or" the opening.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a flashing constructed in according with this invention and utilized in connection with a wood drip cap;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary View in perspective showing the flashing of this invention utilized Without a drip cap;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary view in perspective showing a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 4, a view in perspective showing an end v closure for the flashing shown in Fig. 3 and with the flashing shown in phantom.

With continued reference to the drawing there is shown in Fig. 1 a portion of a building having a side wall lil which is covered by the conventional clapbcards or other siding il. A window opening is deiined by a frame having an upper cross member i2 which serves to receive the upper sash i3 carrying a window pane Irl. Disposed adjacent the outer edge of the upper cross member iii is a rail i5 which serves to support Wood drip cap iii.

l points and as shown in Fig. 1 such dashing comprises a one piece sheet metal an upstanding portion il `which member having is disposed bebehind the clapboards ll and in engagement with the outer surface of the side wall il! of the building. The upstanding portion il merges into a horizontal portion I8 which is disposed between the upper surface of the drip cap IS and the lower edge of the clapboards or siding il. The horizontal portion it merges into a downwardly and outwardly inclined portion I8' which in turn merges into a downwardly and outwardly inclined roof portion iii. Depending from the outer edge of the roof portion it is a downwardly extending flange 2li which is in engagement with and covers the outer edge of drip cap it. At the lower edge of flange '2Q is a downwardly and outwardly inclined portion 2i forming an eave which catches any moisture running down the roof portion i@ and flange 2B and permits such moisture to drip to the ground in a location spaced from a rail l and the side walls of the building. The flashing of this invention obviously prevents leakage between the lower edge of the clapboards or siding i l and the upper surface of the drip cap it and likewise the downwardly depending flange 2li and the eave portion 2l precludes contact of moisture with the drip can it and prevents any leakage of such moisture along the surface of the wood due to capillary action.

The flashing of this invention as above described may be conveniently preformed by a relatively simple stamping operation and may be provided in any desired length, however in the normal use of this flashing a reasonably long length of the same will be provided and the carpenter or other artisan who is using the same will cut the flashing to the desired length, the only tools required being the ordinary conventional tinners snips and the flashing may then be easily and conveniently installed and will preelude the necessity of utilizing caulklng compound which as stated above has proven unsatisfactory.

The flashing disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawing is identical with that described above in connection with Fig. l but in utilizing the same the wood drip cap iii is omitted and the flashing merely installed between the clapboards or siding il and the wall of the building lli with the roof portion i9 projecting outwardly of the rail Iii and preventing leakage of moisture in the same manner as shown in Fig. l. Utilizing the flashing in this fashion does away with the necessity of fitting and installing the drip cap it and likewise saves the cost of the same. Consequently the flashing of this invention represents a real economy measure and at the same time provides an entirely eflicient means for preventing leakage at points in building construction which have proven extremely troublesome.

ln the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the flashing is utilized without a drip cap and as before may comprise an upstanding flange portion 22 disposed between the clapboards or siding li and the wall of the building lll and a horizontal portion 23 abutting the lower edges of the clapboards or siding ll, this horizontal portion 23 merging into a downwardly and outwardly inclined portion 25; which in turn merges into a downwardly and outwardly inclined roof portion 25.

Depending from the outer edge of roof portion 25 is a downwardly extending flange 26 and extending upwardly and inwardly from the lower edge of flange 26 is an inclined portion 42l merging into a horizontal portion 28 which is spaced 4 below the roof portion 25. At the rear edge of the horizontal portion 28 is a downwardly extending flange 2s which is in contact with and may be secured to the rail I5.

The form of the flashing shown in Fig. 3 as well as that shown in Fig. 2 presents an outward appearance which is identical to that obtained when using the wood drip cap i6 but these forms of the invention preclude the necessity for using such drip cap and as stated above save the cost and trouble of installation thereof. The form shown in Fig. 3 provides in effect a tubular structure and in order to preclude entry of moisture into the ends or" such structure, there is provided a closure for the same which as shown in Fig. e may comprise an end portion 30 having flanges 3l extending inwardly which flanges may be inserted within the flashing and either serve to hold the closure in place by the frictional engagement thereof or may be secured in place by soldering or any other desired means. As before, the dashing may be cut to any desired length from an indeterminate preformed length thereof and the end closure members installed on the job to present a pleasing appearance and leakproof construction. The depending flange 2li forms an eave portion from which moisture may drip away from the side walls of the building and the opening closed by the window M without permitting leakage of such moisture either adjacent the lower edges of clapboards or siding Il or at any other point in the structure. Obviously the flashing of this invention may be painted or otherwise finished to match the appearance of the surrounding structure and it would in no way be apparent that such metallic flashing has been utilized since the outward appearance will be substantially identical with that when the wood drip cap it is utilized without any flashing.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided a relatively simple and economical flashing which may be utilized to prevent leakage adjacent the upper end of door or window openings in a building and which may be easily and conveniently cut to the desired length on the job and installed and which at the same time precludes close fitting operations of the adjacent woodwork such as the lower edges of the clapboards or siding and the upper portion of the window frame with which these edges normally abut. rl`he flashing of this invention has proven very effective in stopping all leakage of moisture at the locations where installed and at the same time presents a pleasing outward appearance which in no way departs from the appearance normally associated with this structure.

1t will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A metallic flashing for preventing leakage of moisture at the upper end of window or other openings in a building comprising an elongated sheet metal member having an upstanding portion for disposition behind the siding of a bullding above said opening, a substantially horizontal forwardly extending portion for abutting the lower edge of the siding, a roof portion for conducting moisture away from said building and opening, a downwardly extending flange forming an eave portion, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion extending from the lower edge of said eave portion and merging into a rearwardly extending horizontal portion spaced below said roof portion, said last mentioned horizontal portion terminating in a downwardly extending flange abutting a portion of the building and closure members on the ends of said sheet metal member.

2. A metallic flashing for preventing leakage of moisture at the upper end of window or other openings in a building comprising an elongated sheet metal member having an upstanding portion for disposition behind the siding of a building above said opening, a substantially horizontal forwardly extending portion for abutting the lower edge of the siding, a roof portion for conducting moisture away from said building and opening, a downwardly extending flange forming an eave portion, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion extending from the lower edge of said eave portion and merging into a rearwardly extending horizontal portion spaced below said roof portion, said last mentioned horizontal portion terminating in a downwardly extending flange abutting a portion of the building.

3. A metallic flashing for preventing leakage of moisture at the upper end of window or other openings in a building comprising an elongated sheet metal member having an upstanding portion for disposition behind the siding of a building above said opening, a substantially horizontal forwardly extending portion for abutting the lower edge of the siding, a roof portion for conducting moisture away from said building and opening, a downwardly extending flange forming an eave portion, a substantially horizontal portion extending rearwardly from the lower edge of said eave portion, said last mentioned horizontal portion terminating in a downwardly extending ilange abutting a portion of the building.

4. A metallic ilashing for preventing leakage of moisture at the upper end of window or other openings in a building comprising an elongated sheet metal member having an upstanding portion for disposition behind the siding of a building above said opening, a substantially horizontal forwardly extending portion for abutting the lower edge of the siding, a roof portion for conducting moisture away from said building and opening, a downwardly extending flange forming an eave portion and a substantially horizontal portion extending rearwardly from the lower edge of said eave portion and spaced below said roof portion.

5. A metallic flashing for preventing leakage of moisture at the upper end of window and other openings in a building comprising an elongated sheet metal member having an upstanding p0rtion for disposition behind the siding of a building above an opening therein, said member being of greater length than the width of said opening, a substantially horizontally disposed portion extending forwardly from the lower extremity of said upstanding portion for abutting the lower edge of the siding, a sharply inclined portion depending outwardly from the outer edge of said horizontally disposed portion, a forwardly and downwardly inclined roof portion extending outwardly from the lower edge of said sharply inclined portion, and a substantially vertically disposed flange depending from the outer edge of said roof portion for covering and protecting the adjacent framework of the opening.

6. A metallic flashing as set forth in claim 5 where the lower edge of said substantially vertically disposed flange is provided with a forwardly and downwardly inclined eave portion for directing drops of moisture away from the building and opening.

7. A metallic flashing as set forth in claim 5 where the lower edge of said vertically disposed flange is provided with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion merging into a substantially horizontally disposed portion spaced beneath said roof portion, said last mentioned substantially horizontally disposed portion terminating in a downwardly extending flange abutting a portion of the building immediately above said opening.

8. A metallic flashing as set forth in claim 7 where end closure members are provided for said flashing, the peripheral conformation of said end closure members being complementary to the nterior of the cross-sectional configuration of the flashing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 405,232 Symonds June 11, 1889 1,355,756 Earley Oct. 12, 1920 1,369,620 Colt Feb. 22, 1921 1,736,237 Whitaker Nov. 19, 1929 1,950,519 Ripley Mar. 13, 1944 2,482,170 Gunnison Sept. 20, 1949 2,585,727 Barton Feb. 12, 1952 

